Developing Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION: IMF forecasts predict that seven of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies for the period 2011-2015 will be African. There are two dynamics behind this exceptional growth. First the worldwide boom in commodities, and secondly the value created by a vibrant new generation of African entrepreneurs. Developing the capabilities of these entrepreneurs will be critical to sustaining this growth into the future.

Africa’s economies are driven by SMEs, rather than large domestic corporations, multinationals or government agencies, and it is in this SME sector that young men and women are building high-growth companies and innovating new products and commercial models appropriate to African markets. Empowering this and future generations of entrepreneurs will be a key factor in creating jobs, improving living standards and developing sustainable economies across the continent.

Two things are necessary to support these go-ahead young entrepreneurs – access to financial backing and high-quality management/leadership development.

While traditional banks fund established companies, and microfinance serves underdeveloped markets, high-growth entrepreneurs have had to be extremely resourceful, often relying on family and informal contacts for start-up funding. This has had its advantages but a more formal funding environment is now emerging – witness the second DEMO Africa event taking in place in Nairobi, later this month, which will showcase the most innovative technology products from companies across Africa to a global audience of investors and business angels – from the African Development Bank to VC4Africa.

Courtesy of For MORE..

Internet Availability as a crucial component to Rural-africa

The internet is a hub where industry, technology, education, business, art and entertainment converge. It’s used as everything from a digital library to a means of communicating with friends and loved ones. It is the dominant media of our time, and integrates elements of traditional broadcast media, like television and radio, with millions of daily users downloading podcasts and streaming videos on sites like Youtube. Most traditional print media outlets, looking to cut production costs and potentially reach a larger global audience, have also embraced digital, web-based extensions of their publications

MORE….

ITU Young Innovators’ competition calls for innovative ICT solutions to global challenges

Winning entries offered up to USD 10,000 in funding and showcase at ITU Telecom World 2013

Geneva, 5 April 2013– ITU has launched the third edition of its annual Young Innovators’ Competition offering talented social technopreneurs the opportunity to present their ideas to industry leaders at ITU Telecom World 2013 in Bangkok this November – as well as winning funding, mentorship and ongoing support.
Open to 18-26 year-olds worldwide, the Young Innovators’ Competition is looking for concrete solutions using cutting-edge technology to one of six Global Challenges developed in partnership with specialized UN agencies and leading private sector players:

Improve employment opportunities for young people and migrant workers
Reduce food and water wastage at individual and retail level
Facilitate access to public services for the elderly
Improve natural disaster prediction and response
Improve road safety for both drivers and pedestrians
Protect sensitive personal data and inspire the creation of local digital content

The Challenges reflect the most urgent spheres of life where ICTs could have a significant and wide-ranging impact. The competition seeks pragmatic, market-oriented, scalable solutions making use of connected technologies, such as augmented reality, mobile apps, 3D printing or geospatial tracking.
Submissions may be either in the form of a concept, well-researched or documented ideas which have not yet been implemented, or a start-up, which is already up and running but in need of funding to take it to the next stage.

Applications can be made by simply completing the application form available at http://world2013.itu.int/participate/innovate/ and sending it toyoung.innovators@itu.int with “2013 Young Innovators’ Competition” in the subject line.

The deadline for initial submissions is 30 June 2013, 24:00 GMT +2.
For further details and the application procedure, please see http://world2013.itu.int/event/innovation/. You can also visit the Young Innovators Facebook page or contact us directly at young.innovators@itu.int.
For more information, please see http://world2013.itu.int or contact:

Register as a Voter Today!

Code4Kenya have managed to wrangle the data and make it #Open

A GOOD EXAMPLE EXTRACTED

Registration Centres in Sacho Ward
Sosion Primary School
Kokorwonin Primary School
Koyorus Primary School
Konoyo Primary School
Kaplel Primary
Sigowo Primary School
Kewamoi Primary School
Bosin Primary School
Kabirmoi Primary School
Kabasis Primary School
Timboiywo Primary School
Bakwanin Primary School
Tartar Primary School
Kimotony Primary School
Kaploten Primary School
Tandui Primary School
Kesetan Primary School
Katunoi Primary School
Kapkelelwa Primary School
Saimet Primary School

FOR MORE VISIT Got To Vote! Ke

PASHA! IS THE POINT MISSING US YET?

With the majority of Kenyans still lacking better access to Internet services and ICT’s, we have seen in the recent past, a renewed push for these services and solutions to the rural based communities and pasha is not an exception, these initiatives however face certain challenges that require financial might, innovative thinking and perhaps better use of technology to overcome problems and needs.

The day has come to an end, and many comments, ideas, discussions etc have been shared and listened to,   a quiet question pondered into my mind, when the PASHA Initiative come to be in place the objective was to connect communities and it is doing so through ICT’s for the sake of digital inclusion. This is enough, later this week, AITEC East Africa ICT Summit 2012 is to be held at Oshwal Centre, Westlands Nairobi themed “Smart cities > smart societies > smart enterprises”

So what is a “smart community”? it is a community in which members of local government, business, education, healthcare institutions and the general public understand the potential of information technology, and form successful alliances to work together to use technology to transform their community in significant and positive ways.

This is fine, so I asked myself what is a PASHA Centre is and what is its “Object of Formation” a simple explanation could be digital inclusion and empowering the community trough ICT’s. This is meant to achieve the objective of mitigating an information-based society which is one of the main priorities of the Government towards the realization of national development goals and objectives for wealth and employment creation.

 Speakers came in, question are put forward answers are given back and still there is that miracle moment expected that the all thing changes to be a favour of some sought if I may call it. The day’s session made me think that the game has to change and  I took the opportunity to ask myself once more, what is the relationship between the two definitions, only to find out that the common denominator was ICT’s and Transforming communities.

Smart connected communities

One moment after another I realized that this linking of all community functions and general public making them understand the potential of information technology, form successful alliances that work together and use of technology to transform communities in significant and positive ways is what defines a product that leads to creating a smart community.

From these I now understand my object of existence, that through an entrepreneurial process to favour my sustainability path I am an agent to creating a smart community. So how can My PASHA Centre be viewed to be?

 Game Changer

This meant the moment to call for a redefinition of the whole model, I just watched our partners, facilitators and presenters one after the other and had a feeling that maybe and just saying maybe I need to review my objectives and see if all my effort is really driven towards my goal “Connecting Communities trough ICT’s for empowerment and transformation”, do I belief in this core aspect and am I playing the role as I purported to, is the process so complicated that nobody understands my scenario or am I just sailing in a ship that has shown a distress call and instead of helping he captain for a solution, go on pestering with the question, “why did you let us sail in a faulty ship?”

From all this, am I really still on course, that is connecting communities, do I drive the point from an entrepreneurial point of view, can I be a game changer? Should I be moving towards an agent to Smart Community development and make it ready for the Knowledge economy.

Ever imagined of a game changer, Can pasha be one?

Time to Impact the community

GdeISP@CE a community of Powered entrepreneurs dedicated to connecting communities through ICT’s, Now got a new challenge out of the former Head of state sentiments to prepare Africa for a meaningful participation in the Knowledge society/ arena. He reiterated that education and research are important avenues to acquire, develop and learn how to use this knowledge.

Further note was however made that Africa still faces challenges of poverty, illiteracy and disease that calls for Universities, research institutions and private enterprises to take a leading role

Do Not Pity Those That Think Facebook Is the Internet

Christopher Mims has a well researched article on Facebook’s plan to find its next billion users and convince them the internet and Facebook are the same. He has great data points and graphics from around the developing world to point out Facebook’s amazing reach and purposeful focus on recruiting new users:

Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing Services

In the Philippines, says Eagle, “Facebook is literally becoming the internet.” At the end of 2011, according to Nielsen Research, a third of the country’s citizens were on the internet, or 33.6 million people. Today, the number of Facebook users in the Philippines is 29.4 million. The leading regional handset manufacturer, MyPhone, incorporates Facebook’s logo into its advertising, which includes a popular teen musical group that raps about Facebook in viral videos on YouTube.

As a result of that post, I recently had an enlightening conversation with Leo Gaggl on Google Plus. He was pittying those new Facebook users, feeling that they might equate Facebook with the Internet, akin to those who thought AOL was the Internet in the 1990s. He says:

It’s comparable to convincing people McDonald’s is real food. And as we all know in the long run it can be quite bad for your health. However for a person starving I am sure McDonald’s would be better than no food.

The Kabarak University Half-Marathon

When everything seems to be going against you remember that an air plane takes off against the wind not with it.This is what Kabarak Half-Marathon organizers must be hopping for after the dates of Lewa Conservancy safaricom marathon and theirs clashed.

All in All the big day is here Kabarak Half-Marathon is on tomorrow. Preparations ongoing at the University grounds marks the peak to set everything right for the event, the first ever “Kabarak University Half Marathon”.

People of all kind trip in as others move out to confirm and ascertain the environment, weather and physical conditions of the route.
This is amazing though little is known of what it involves. Volunteers were given briefs on how they will man the days event, the medical team setting up tents in preparation for any eventualities.

Events
– 21 KM Men and Women
– 5 KM Corporate Race
– Children Race

   The Goal
The main goal of this race is to help the less fortunate children realize their dreams.

    From the middle of the world “Equator – Mogotio” to deep inside our hearts, lets come together and secure the                 future of our kids.

Check Official Site

Two Kenyan Start-ups make a mark in the Global Realm

Two Kenyan tech start-ups, MedAfrica and Kommunity Bora, have been selected as a finalist for the Ericsson Application Awards 2012. The challenge themed “Apps for the Networked Society”, aims to promote innovations from a variety of environments, places and situation as well as by connecting people, things and places to empower individuals and society.

MedAfrica is …see more

Refining the Search

Google has launched a new too to refine its search engine. this is more targeted towards knowledge graph that helps spot light more relevant search results.